Hinge assembly for eyewear

Abstract

Eyewear hinge assemblies for eyewear that connect temples to a frame. The hinge assemblies include hinge elements that are attached to the temples in an extended state, which stores an initial amount of energy or pre-load. The pre-load biases the temples inwardly and toward one another. After the temples are placed on the user's head, stored energy in the hinge elements can be released as the hinge elements exhibit elastic recoil. This causes the temples to grip the sides of the user's head in a snug and comfortable fit. The hinge assemblies have compact designs with material properties that provide comfortable closing forces while aiding in the reduction of electromagnetic noise from electrical subsystems in the eyewear.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hinge assembly for connecting a temple to a frame of eyewear, the hinge assembly comprising:
 a hinge element comprising a body that includes a first hinge element section for attachment to the frame, a second hinge element section for attachment to the temple, and a grounding system;   the hinge element pre-bent along a hinge section to assume a bent configuration in a relaxed state, the hinge section separating the first hinge element section from the second hinge element section; and   the hinge element deformable from the relaxed state to a pre-loaded state when the first hinge element section is attached to the frame and the second hinge element section is attached to the temple, such that the hinge element connects the temple to the frame under a stored energy that biases the temple inwardly toward a user's head when worn.   
     
     
         2 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge element section is angularly offset from the second hinge element section by an offset angle α, which is less than 180 degrees in the relaxed state. 
     
     
         3 . The hinge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the offset angle α is greater than or equal to 180 degrees in the pre-loaded state. 
     
     
         4 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second hinge element section comprises at least one slot configured to permit translation of the hinge element relative to the temple in an assembled state. 
     
     
         5 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the grounding system comprises at least one location on the first hinge element section or the second hinge element section. 
     
     
         6 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the grounding system comprises at least one fastener that connects the hinge element to one of the temple or the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The hinge assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises one of a screw and a pogo pin. 
     
     
         8 . The hinge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge element is formed of a high carbon steel alloy. 
     
     
         9 . Eyewear comprising:
 a frame having a first end and a second end;   a first temple;   a second temple;   a first hinge assembly that pivotably connects the first temple to the first end of the frame; and   a second hinge assembly that pivotably connects the second temple to the second end of the frame,   each of the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly comprising:   a hinge element comprising a body that includes a first hinge element section attached to the frame, a second hinge element section attached to one of the first and second temples, and a grounding system,   the hinge element pre-bent along a hinge section that separates the first hinge element section from the second hinge element section,   the hinge element attached to the frame and said one of the first and second temples in a pre-loaded state in which the second hinge element section is extended relative to the first hinge element section along the hinge section and stores energy in the hinge element, and   the energy stored in the hinge element operable to bias said one of the first and second temples toward a user's head when the eyewear is worn.   
     
     
         10 . The eyewear of  claim 9 , wherein, in each hinge assembly, the first hinge element section is angularly offset from the second hinge element section by an angle α of 180 degrees in the pre-loaded state. 
     
     
         11 . The eyewear of  claim 9 , wherein, in each hinge assembly, the second hinge element section translates relative to one of the first and second temples when said one of the first and second temples pivots relative to the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The eyewear of  claim 9 , wherein each hinge assembly comprises a radio frequency (RF) shield for shielding components in the eyewear from electromagnetic interference. 
     
     
         13 . The eyewear of  claim 12 , wherein, in each hinge assembly, the RF shield comprises the hinge element and at least one fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The eyewear of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises one of a screw and a pogo pin. 
     
     
         15 . The eyewear of  claim 9 , wherein the hinge element is formed of a high carbon steel alloy. 
     
     
         16 . The eyewear of  claim 9 , wherein, in each hinge assembly, the first hinge element section is pivotally attached to the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The eyewear of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first hinge trim that pivotably connects the first hinge element section of the first hinge assembly to the frame; and   a second hinge trim that pivotably connects the first hinge element section of the second hinge assembly to the frame.   
     
     
         18 . The eyewear of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first hinge trim and the second hinge trim is pivotable relative to the frame through an angle β that is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The eyewear of  claim 17 , wherein, for each hinge assembly, the eyewear further comprises an adapter that connects the hinge element to the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The eyewear of  claim 19 , wherein, for each hinge assembly, the eyewear further comprises at least one support arm attached to the adapter that bears against the hinge element to maintain the hinge element in the pre-loaded state.